MENTAL HEALTH, RESILIENCE, AND EDUCATION

Abstract

Mental health challenges among children and adolescents have reached crisis proportions globally, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide threatening both individual well-being and societal functioning. Educational institutions, where young people spend the majority of their waking hours, represent critical settings for promoting mental health, building resilience, and providing early intervention. This chapter examines the intricate relationships among mental health, resilience, and education, arguing that colleges and institutions must evolve from purely academic institutions into comprehensive developmental ecosystems that prioritize psychological well-being alongside cognitive growth. The chapter explores evidence-based approaches for integrating mental health promotion into educational settings, including: whole-school approaches that create psychologically safe environments; social-emotional learning programs that develop emotional regulation, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making; trauma-informed practices that recognize the impact of adverse experiences; mindfulness and stress-reduction interventions; peer support programs; and teacher well-being initiatives recognizing that educators' mental health directly affects students. In an era of unprecedented stressors—from academic pressure and social media to climate anxiety and global instability—building resilience and supporting mental health through education represents not merely a clinical necessity but a moral imperative and strategic investment in human potential and societal flourishing.